I'm really glad
Guys, I have to be real.
Setting boundaries with my business is really hard. It is easy for me to work a ten hour day and still feel like I cannot disconnect and unplug. Last year, I promised myself to actively find ways to leave work at work, and this year, I’m still working on implementing those changes.
Today, I’m chatting about the 5 things that are helping lay the foundation for healthy small business boundaries.
1. Establish Business Hours. What the heck are your hours of operation? Do you have them? When do you clock in for the day and close down for the night? Figure those out, and stick to them. If you have littles at home that demand your attention and a more flexible work schedule, create operational hours that works for you right now. Give yourself permission to flex from that when the change is necessary.
Sticking to conducting business during business hours is one of my biggest hurdles when it comes to running KSP. As my husband lovingly pointed out, I am am continuously soaking up work related details. Maybe I’m checking in on a post with a photography group, scouting for new locations to shoot, or reading something business related. It is very difficult for me to think outside of business parameters, but it is something I work on every day.
2. Automation. My client management system, automatically sends out invoices in my workflow system on the date they are due. The same goes for contracts, questionnaires, and other client materials. Implementing this in to my work flow has been the best time saver EVER. It. Is. Amazing.
This means I’m not logging on to my email to send client material on my off hours…and this also means I’m not getting sucked into the email black hole.
The second system I use that saves me a ton of planning time is Planoly. The system helps me plan out my Instagram posts and schedule them. This gives me a chance to see how everything will look in the grid, plan out captions, and create a cohesive flow weeks in advance. Knocking this out in big batches saves me hours of time, freeing me up to unplug when I need to.
Dedicate an hour to social media strategy and planning this week during our business hours and see how much time it saves you during your work week!
3. Creating Dedicated Work Space. In 2018, I was finally able to open up my studio a block away from our apartment. It was not only such a joy to have a space to share with my clients and creative community, but to have a place to sit down and really get work done. Here, I could create a schedule. Where at home, just a block away, I was constantly distracted by everything else on my to do list (laundry, cleaning, errands, miscellaneous house work, our two dogs…the list goes on). Once I had a space outside of my home to work, it felt like I was actually going to work again. I set my schedule and stuck to it. Even on days where my schedule is more flexible with multiple shoots and functions happening, I’m able to maintain the structure my brain needs to stay in work mode. At the end of the day, the door gets shut and locked to this little place, and I go home. The separation it creates is magical for me. If having a separate work space or co-working space is in your budget and available, I highly recommend taking the leap.
4. Sticking to a Schedule. Remember when we were kids and we had a set school schedule? There’s a reason we had that! Even if you’re a free spirit who hates sitting behind a desk (I’m with ya), having a schedule gives you a purpose and direction every day. Much like those elementary kiddos, having a schedule can help you get in the groove and know what to expect each day…even if every day looks different for you!
The very first thing I do when I get up in the morning isn’t run to my inbox or to check my messages. It is SO tempting, and I am definitely not perfect at it, but I know that isn’t the best way for me to start my day. I grab a cup of coffee, make breakfast and turn the news on. Keeping it real, I usually throw a load of laundry or pick up the house before jumping in the shower or heading out for a run.
There are plenty of days where I’m in my office well before 10:00 AM, but I’m not spending that time on my computer or phone in my inbox. That’s the time I’m usually cleaning up for a client, and setting up my gear for the day. 10:00 AM is when my first shoot for the day starts.I’m not panicking or thinking about administrative things when I’m actually shooting. I know that I have built in time in my schedule for the week to take care of those things.
In-between shoots, or if that’s the only shoot I have for the day, that’s when I can check on emails and catch up with what happened overnight.
While I’m checking in with clients and inquiries, I load my sessions from the morning into Lightroom and walk home for lunch. Let the dogs out. Come back to work. Back up the loaded photos and start on creating content or editing. If I have an afternoon studio shoot or mentoring session, I gear up for those.
Each day doesn’t look exactly like that, but for the most part, every day starts off the same. Unless I’m working a wedding or a sunrise shoot, my schedule resembles something very similar to that Monday through Friday. It helps me to anticipate what’s coming up and keep my head fully in the game with each task at hand.
Once you get a schedule that works for you, stick. to. it. This will be your life saver when a busy season hits!
5. Urgency Does Not Equal Emergency. When I’m working through my day, I know that I have to stay fully present to deliver the best services possible. When I’m shooting, it is my job to not only deliver stellar images and working the camera, it is my job to give one hundred percent to the amazing people in front of my camera. It’s gotta happen. All the text messages that ding through during my session time can wait until I’m done. Inquiries, questions, direct messages, all of that can wait…because what I’m focused on are the people in front of me.
The same goes for intercepting communication during off hours. To create space and boundaries, remember that just because someone requests something of you, does not necessarily mean it is an emergency. By creating an out of office email autoresponder for those situations, you can provide information to whoever is trying to get in touch with you, without being pulled from your rest or family time.
Working on creating systems that help set boundaries adds incredible value to your business and your personal life. Remember, you are more than your business. It’s okay to feel deeply connected to your work but need time away from it. That’s how you recharge and live a full and healthy life.
I’d love to keep the conversation going about this topic. If you have a tip or story to share, leave a comment below!
